Qld Government won't act to stop Bribie Is ocean breakthrough

The Queensland Government says it will not take any action to prevent a possible ocean breakthrough at the northern tip of Bribie Island off the state's south-east.

Environment Minister Andrew Powell has advised the Sunshine Coast council that a breakthrough is imminent if last year's storm season is repeated this summer.

The council wants the Government to prevent a breakthrough at four places on the island and to also help fund mitigation work across Pumicestone Passage on the Golden Beach foreshore.

Council says it could cost $14 million in the next five years to protect Golden Beach but Mr Powell says it can only offer advice not cash.

"We simply don't know which of the four if any of the scenarios will actually occur at this stage," he said.

"It will be a case of being prepared for any.

"It will be a case of having the right protections ready to go but even if there is a breakthrough the ultimate impact on Golden Beach could take considerable time following that breakthrough before we actually see it."

Mr Powell says prevention work on the eastern side of Bribie is out of the question.

"There's no certainty around where, if at all, we should be focusing that attention, secondly because we're talking about a national park, thirdly because of the significant investment that would be required could come to nought with a large storm anyway," he said.

"We are strongly of the belief that we should let nature take its course when it comes to Bribie Island as it has for many decades now."